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Trump hit with new legal threat after 'blatant violation' of war powers law

Donald Trump (Reuters)
David McAfee
June 27, 2026

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) threatened legal action against President Donald Trump on Saturday following reports that the United States had launched a new round of airstrikes against Iran, accusing the president of openly violating a war powers measure passed by Congress.

Khanna was reacting to a report, flagged by journalist Acyn, that Fox was claiming the U.S. was carrying out fresh strikes on Iran. The report suggested the situation was escalating and cast doubt on whether a ceasefire would hold, accompanied by footage marked "unclassified" from U.S. Central Command.

The congressman did not hold back in his response, characterizing the strikes as a clear breach of the law.

"These strikes are a blatant violation of the War Powers Resolution that we passed," Khanna wrote.

He then issued a direct ultimatum to the president, warning that lawmakers were prepared to go to court if the strikes continued.

"Trump must stop this war now — or we will take him to court to compel him to do so," Khanna wrote.

The War Powers Resolution, enacted in 1973, requires the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of committing armed forces to hostilities and bars sustained military action beyond 60 days without congressional authorization. Khanna has long been among the most vocal members of Congress invoking the resolution to challenge presidential military action without legislative approval.

The renewed strikes, if confirmed, would mark a significant escalation in a confrontation with Iran that has already drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers in both parties who argue the administration has sidestepped Congress in its military decision-making.

Khanna's threat sets up a potential legal clash over the scope of presidential war powers, an area where courts have historically been reluctant to intervene in disputes between the executive and legislative branches.

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